Machine for embossing without dies



F. A. VIRKUS.

MACHINE FOR EMBOSSING WITHOUT DIES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 19, I914. RENEWED JUNE 10, 1919.

Patented J an. 20, 1920.

S H E ET I.

3 SHEETS LEE:

RENEWED JUNE 10, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

v Patented Jan. 20, 1920.

F. A. VIRKUS.

MACHINE FOR EMBOSSING WITHOUT DIES. APPLECATION FILED JAN. 19, 19M.

RENEWED JUNE I0, l9l9.

Patented Jan. 20, 1920.

lli; it M Wtmuos 'either a glazed or a dead finish.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK A. VIRKUS, OF LA GRANGE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WOOD, NATHAN 8c 'VIRKUS COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

MACHINE FOR EMBOSSING I'IHOU'I DIES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 20, 1920.

Application filed January 19, 1914, Serial No. 812,964. Renewed June 10, 1919. Serial No. 303,256.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK A. VIRKUs, a citizen of the United States, residing at La Grange, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Machine for Embossing Without Dies, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the art of embossing without dies. As heretofore practised, this has been carried out in a crude way by printing on a sheet and while the. inked characters are still fresh, dusting them with a finely powdered compound which can be melted by heat, removing the compound from all parts of the paper except the characters, and finally fixing the compoundon the characters by heat. S0

far as I am aware the process has been carried out only in a crude way by hand methods and has never become strictly speaking a commercial process.

The principal objects of this invention are to provide a machine for carrying out this process on a practical scale and in an efficient and economical manner, and to provide certain improvements in the process itself. The invention also involves the provision of mechanism whereby the freshly printed material will be taken entirely automatically through a body of the compound, the surplus compound removed and that remaining on the letters or characters fixed thereto in an exact and uniform manner by the ap plication of heat; the provision of a practical means for introducing the sheet material into the body of finely powdered material. keeping the same in proper position while going through the powdered material, means for allowing the powdered material to work out at the sides and preventing its being crushed on the surface of the paper by the means which holds the same in position; and means for regulating the heat so as to secure exact results and also for the purpose of .varying the character of the product. The invention also involves several other features of the machine itself and improvements in the method by which the completed product can be caused to have Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which- F igure 1 1s a slde view of a machine constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of details looking in the direction of the arrow l in Fig. 3 on the far side of the machine. V

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the means for1 removing the surplus powdered materia Fig. 6 is a similar view of another portion of said means;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 77 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the driving mechanism on enlarged scale;

Fig. 9 is a plan of the heating device; and

Fig. 10 is a sectional View of the same on the line 1010 of Fig. 9.

The machine is shown as comprising a frame-work 10 which supports a motor 11 by which the parts are driven. This motor is connected with a shaft 12 having pulleys 13, 14 and 15 and a cone pulley 16 which operate pulleys for driving the various elements of the machine as will appear hereinafter.

The pullev 13 is shown as connected by a fiat belt with a pulley 17 which is mounted on a shaft that is provided with a roll 18. This roll carries an endless apron 20. This apron preferably is of rubber and passes in the direction of the arrow from the roll 18 around an idler 21 over two rolls 22 and 23 and down under idler disks 19 into a re- These two sets of pulleys carry two spring belts 30. Each of these belts ismade up of an endless coiled wire spring with the coils set rather coarsely for a purpose that will be referred to hereinafter. The several pulleys 25, 26 and 27 are so arranged that the spring belts 30 come into contact with the main carrying apron 20 throughout a large proportion of the length of the former and it'is this contact which drives the spring belts and their pulleys.

The two pulleys 25 are located in position to extend down into the receptacle 24 to hold the sheets on the apron while in said receptacle. In this operation the apron 20 is car ried by the idler disks 19. The pulleys 26 are located along the straight portion of the apron 20 before it passes over the roll 23 to enter the receptacle 24 and the pulleys 27 are located just beyond the roll 18.

Between the rolls 22 and 23 the apron 20 is arranged in horizontal position to move over a platform 32. At the side of this platform is a side gage 33 arranged in such position that print'ed sheets placed on the apron 20 in position to cOme up exactly to the side gage on one side will pass under the left and pulley- 26 in such position that the spring belt on that side will come in the in contact with the main carrying apron 2O until they travel under the pulleys 27. Thus the sheets are dipped in the powdered material so as to cause some of it to adhere'to the printed portion thereof.

For the purpose of dislodging the surplus -powdered material from the sheets as soon as they emerge from the receptacle 24 the following mechanism is shown. On the shaft carrying the drum 18 is a pulley 37'which drives a pulley 34'on a shaft 35. This shaft is provided with a star wheel or'cam .36 which, once or oftener during each revolution, vibrates in opposition to a spring 38, which thus periodically forces a knocker 39 against the back of the belt 20. This. knocker operates throu h an opening 40 in a convex sheet metal guic e plate 41 which extends upwardly from the receptacle 24 substantially to the drum 18. Thus a smart rap is given periodically to the back of the apron while the card on sheet is convexed by the guide plate. As it is directly over the receptacle 24 the surplus powdered material is dislodged into the same. The purpose of convexin the guide is to enable the apron and the sprin belt to get a firm hold upon sheet as t'iey carry it forward. @ne of the reasons for making the belts 30 of spring material having rather coarse convolutions is to provide spaces by which the powdered material that would tend to be caught under 4 these belts can work out at the sides through them. This prevents the material being crushed by these belts on the surfaces to be treated. In this way these surfaces are kept clean and yet the sheets are pressed firmly into contact with the main carrying apron 20 throughout their travel through the powdered material in the receptacle 24.

For the purpose of securing the removal of any powdered material from the carrying apron 20, the pulley 15 operates a brush 43 which cleans the surface of the apron and dusts the material into a pan 44 which can be taken up and emptied into the receptacle 24. This brush is made adjustable as is also the idler 21 to providefor any slack in solid material, preferably asbestos or coated with asbestos, and it is designed to carry the sheets through a heating oven 47 at any desired speed.

This heating oven may be of any desired type and the heat may be applied electrically or in any desired way; but I have found that the heat shouldbe applied from above and direhted way but I have found that the heat should be applied from above and directed down on the surfaces on which the powdered material is located. In this way the heat does not have to pass through the sheet but is applied directly to the powdered material itself and as the sheets lie fiat on a solid apron, there is no opportunity for oxygen or air to enter directly under them and they are prevented from being scorched by the insulation thus produced.

Moreover, I provide means, both by regulating the speed of the apron and the intensity of heat, by which any scorching can be prevented and by which the character of the product itself can be varied to give different appearances. For this purpose 1 have shown this heating oven as comprising a receptacle in which are located a plurality of gas pipes 50 having perforations normally located on the under. sides thereof. These gas pipes are fed from a main 49 and are individually contrclled loy cocks 51. in addition to this each gas pipe is made adjustable circumferentially so that if the intensity the heat is to be varied it can be done by turning the pipes to direct the flames either more or less directly upon the surfaces of the sheets. -Another adjustment is provided by the regulation of the speed of the apron 46 by shifting the belt on the conemeans of anidler that as they vdrop they land on a rearwardly inclined section of the apron so that they can come into contact with the back stop 54. In this way they are evenly spaced on the apron; At the delivery side of this apron they are delivered into a stand which is longitudinally adjustable on a support 56 so that cards of different sizes may be piled up upon it.

The method is carried out in the following way. Cards or sheets, or even a web, are printed, painted, or written upon in any desired way with an ink or size which is somewhat tacky or sticky and delivered one by one to the horizontal portion of the apron 20,.

over the platform 32, being placed against the side gage 38. Resting on this main carrying apron 20, they are carried forward until their e'dges or margins are engaged by the spring belts 30. They then continue to travel with these belts 20 and 30 down into the receptacle 24: and around the pulleys 25.

In this receptacle is located, a finely powdered, readily meltable compound, suitable for carrying out this method. It will be understood that any compound suitable for this purpose can be employed as for example.

. rosin, wax, shellac and many other gums and compoundsofa similar nature. The sheets or cards by this means are forced down into the body of powdered material so as to receive the same on their printed surfaces, and are caused to ascend therefrom in a slightly convex position in front of the guide plate 41. The apron 20 is given periodically a series of sharp raps on the back while the cards or sheets are slightly flexed into a convex position and the material which does not actually stick to the printed portions of the sheets or cards is thus dislodged and drops back into the receptacle 24.

It is also to be observed that on account of l the cylindrical shape of the spring belts 30 and the fact that theyare made of slightly separated coils of wire any powdered material that would tend tobe caughtunder them and pressed into close engagement with the there descend, preferably by gravity, on the apron 4-6. This apron can be speeded up to different speeds and the heat applied at differentintensities-as has been explained hereinbefore so as to get different results in the product. For example, if it is desired to give a glazed a )pearance to the-printing, the heat is intensi ed or the belt slowed down. This causes the powdered material to be melted on the cards and leaves it with a glazed finish. I

If it is desired, however, to give a dead finish to the printing the apron is speeded up or the intensity of the heat diminished so that, although the powdered material is slightly fused at its under surfaces in order to stick permanently to the printed characters, yet it is not entirely melted but retains its granular condition on the surface at least. Th1s can be regulated to any desired nicety and is found in practice to give a perfect dead finish. I

The cards drop from the heating device. on the delivering apron and are then delivered to the front of the machine as has been explained. This apron is long enough to permit the ink and composition to dry enough to permit piling and handling.

' Although I have illustrated and described one specific embodiment of the invention and explained themethod as being carried out by a definite order of steps, I am aware of the fact that modifications can be made, and in fact that the machine can be variedw vitln in Wide limits, and the process also varied. without departing from the scope of the inventionasexpressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited in these respects, but what I do claim is 1. In a machine for embossing without dies, the combination with a carrier for printed sheets or the like, of a. receptacle for powdered material, means cooperating with said carrier for forcing the sheets under the surface of the powdered material in said receptacle and moving the sheets out of the same, and means for jarring the sheets after they come out of the powdered material to remove the surplus powdered material there from.

2. In a machine for embossing without dies, the combination with a receptacle for powdered material, of means for forcing a printed product under the surface of the powdered material in said receptacle and moving it out of the same, and means for jarring the product after it comes out of the powdered material to remove the surplus powdered material therefrom, the last named means being located in a position to cause the material dislodged to drop down tacle for powdered material, means for carrying said apron with the sheets thereon under the surface of the powdered material in said receptacle, a pair of belts formed of coiled wire, and two sets 'of pulleys for receiving said coiled wire belts and causing them to move along in'contact with said carrier apron both before and after the apron enters the powdered material.

i. In a machine of the character described,-

the combination of an endless apron for receiving printed sheets or the like, a receptacle for powdered material, a pair of idler disks mounted in position to extend down into said receptacle near the edges of said apron and cause the apron to move down into said receptacle, and a pair of spring belts passing in contact with the carrier apron while in said receptacle.

5. in a machine of the character described, the combination of an apron for carrying printed sheets or the like, a receptacle for powered material, a series of guide pulleys,

certain of said pulleys extending down into the combination of a platform, a side gage thereon, an endless rubber apron passing over said platform adjacent to said side gage, a pair of wire belts movable along in contact with said rubber apron, one of said wire belts being located adjacent to said side gage and the other being adjustable toward Leeann)? I I and from the same, and means for. applying powdered material to the sheets on the rubber apron.

T. In a machine of the character described, the combination of an endless apron for carrying printed sheets, a. receptaclefor powdered material, means for carrying said apron with the sheets thereon under the surface of the powdered material in said receptacle, means for holding the sheets in close contact with said apron while entering the powdered material and emerging therefrom, and means for brushing the powdered material from the main apron.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination of an; endless apron for carrying printed sheets, means for forcing the sheets into the powdered material to cover them with powder, means for jarring said apron and removing the surplus powdered material from the sheets, and means for brushing the powdered material from the apron.

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination of an endless apron for carrying printed sheets a guide along the surface of which said apron travels, said guide having a hole therethrough, and a knocker adapted to extend through said hole for jarring said apron and removing the. surplus powdered material from the sheets.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing w1t-nesses.

FREDERICK A. VIRKUS.

lVitnesses:

P. M. STOEBER, L. LLOYD. 

